SMPTE Expo to showcase new and emerging entertainment tech

New and emerging entertainment technologies of practical use to content creation, management, distribution and display professionals will be the focus of SMPTE 2008 Annual Tech Conference & Expo. Early bird registration is now open for the international event, it was announced by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), technical society for the motion imaging industry and producers of the show. The three-day conference and trade show takes place from October 28–30, 2008 at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. It will be preceded by the special pre-conference symposium, Shooting and Broadcasting Live Events, on October 27 at the same location.

SMPTE 2008 will feature keynotes, case studies and tutorials from tech leaders worldwide who will detail their findings and experience on a broad range of topics, including stereoscopic 3-D theatrical and home entertainment, asset management via metadata, and IPTV.

“We designed the SMPTE 2008 Tech Conference and Expo to be a nuts and bolts resource for our members, as well as a service to the greater professional entertainment technology community,” said Kimberly Maki, executive director of the organization and the show. “It is a nonproprietary event where the industry can learn about the latest media-related technologies and how they will be employed, and about the innovations likely to be put into place in the next five years.”

SMPTE 2008 will offer more educational sessions than previous annual shows, brought about by a record number of white paper submissions. More than 55% of the tendered research came from experts outside the United States. Final presenters were selected by the SMPTE 2008 Program Committee, which is chaired by Tom Scott, vice president, technology, OnStream Media. This year’s conference will be complemented by an expanded trade show floor, with high-tech, hands-on displays from companies in the entertainment hardware, software, tools and technologies marketplace.